The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a major piece of the U.S. social safety net used by nearly 42 million, or about 1 in 8 Americans, to help buy groceries.

With federal food aid frozen during the government shutdown, there has been a wave of people rushing to help — sending gift cards or buying groceries for SNAP recipients in their community.

What exactly is SNAP, and is it the same as food stamps? How does it work? Here's what to know as Nov. 1 cutoff nears.

Earlier this year, after President Donald Trump signed his tax and spending megabill into law on July 4, changes were made to SNAP eligibility factors, including work requirements and non-citizen ...